IT-enabled power supply in 4,041 urban towns in next 3 years

NEW DELHI: Government is aiming at information technology-driven power distribution in the next 3 years that will allow users to get a supply status at 4,041 urban towns on a real-time basis.

Once this project is up and running, the consumers can get the information through the URJAmobile application.

"All 4,041 urban towns in the country will be IT-enabled in the next three years. The government has already approved the expenditure for covering an additional 2,636 urban towns. The tenders will be floated soon," a senior official said.

"Under the old Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme, as many as 1,405 urban towns were to be covered for making those IT enabled. The work has already been completed in 1,222 urban towns."

As part of the project, as many as 48 engineers designated as Urban Vidyut Abhiyantas (UVAs) have been roped in to assist the power discoms, facilitating better consumer connect and monitoring of Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS).

The UVAs with an experience of 3-15 years in project management, distribution franchisee and infrastructure sector shall be positioned at every discom. As many as 50 discoms will be covered under the programme.

The current model follows the success of Grameen Vidyut Abhiyantas (GVAs) in expediting rural electrification across the country.

At the inauguration of the induction programme of the UAVs here today, Power Minister Piyush Goyal invoked Mahatma Gandhi, terming consumer as the king.

Goyal went further, "We have to focus on the consumer. Whatever we do will ultimately affect us as we are also consumers of same services."

Stressing on the need for transparency and accountability, the minister urged everyone to monitor data monthly on Urja mobile app (www.urjaindia.co.in) and seek better services from their discoms.

State-run Power Finance Corporation is the nodal agency for operationalisation of the IPDS Programme. While these UVAs will report to state discoms executive heads, they will be paid remuneration by the central government.